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Roman Slavery Trivia Quiz

A quiz about slavery in Ancient Rome.

A multiple-choice quiz by Minerva. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Minerva

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
59,882

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1554

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What is the name for the process of freeing a slave?

Answer: (One Word - In English begins with 'm')

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Question 2 of 10

2. Who wrote the following: 'Numerous patches star and plaster his brow. Don't you know why? Lift the patches and read'? Hint

Livy

Martial

Cato

Pliny

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Question 3 of 10

3. What was the name of the overseer? Hint

Gladiator

Venalicium

Vilicus

Lanista

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Question 4 of 10

4. By the time of the Emperor Domitian (AD 81 - 96) what percentage of the Roman population could trace some freed men in their ancestry? Hint

95 percent

90 percent

87 percent

61 percent

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Question 5 of 10

5. What were slaves born into slavery called? Hint

Venalicium

Lictor

Lanista

Vernae

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Question 6 of 10

6. If a slave woman had four or more children (preferably boys) what was she rewarded with? Hint

Freedom

A holiday

Getting to keep one of them

Money

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Question 7 of 10

7. What was the name of Cicero's slave who was also a good friend? Hint

Trimalchio

Columella

Mithridates

Tiro

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Question 8 of 10

8. Where was Spartacus born? Hint

Ostia

Germania

Rome

Thrace

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Question 9 of 10

9. Petronius wrote the first novel which was about a freed man. What was this character's name? Hint

Cornelius

Trimalchio

Vedius

Gaius

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Question 10 of 10

10. How many of Spartacus's men were crucified along the Via Appia? Hint

4000

10000

8000

6000

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is the name for the process of freeing a slave?

Answer: Manumission

2. Who wrote the following: 'Numerous patches star and plaster his brow. Don't you know why? Lift the patches and read'?

Answer: Martial

Martial wrote witty little paragraphs called 'epigrams'.

3. What was the name of the overseer?

Answer: Vilicus

He oversaw all the slaves in the familia rustica (rural family).

4. By the time of the Emperor Domitian (AD 81 - 96) what percentage of the Roman population could trace some freed men in their ancestry?

Answer: 90 percent

5. What were slaves born into slavery called?

Answer: Vernae

They were the most valuable sort of slave because they could be taught specialised skills at an early age.

6. If a slave woman had four or more children (preferably boys) what was she rewarded with?

Answer: Freedom

If she had three she was given a holiday. Often women would be freed so that her master could marry her.

7. What was the name of Cicero's slave who was also a good friend?

Answer: Tiro

When Cicero eventually freed Tiro the latter remained his servant.

8. Where was Spartacus born?

Answer: Thrace

Most of Thrace is in present Bulgaria.

9. Petronius wrote the first novel which was about a freed man. What was this character's name?

Answer: Trimalchio

Only fragments of Petronius' novel 'The Satyricon' have been preserved, among them 'Cena Trimalchionis' (Trimalchio's Feast)

10. How many of Spartacus's men were crucified along the Via Appia?

Answer: 6000

Because they were slaves they were allowed to be crucified. It was illegal to crucify a Roman citizen.

Source: Author Minerva

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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